The Portland daily press., 1887-02-11
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
a Flower with a Very interesting
History.

[Good Cheer.l
The most popular Of all flowers in England
and America, at present, is the chrysanthe-
mum. Within the last few years it has re-
ceived great attention, and the number and
excellence of the varieties have been wonder
fully increased To such perfection have the
better kinds been brought, that scarcely one
out of two thousand new varieties is as good
as its parent.
The chrysanthemum is one of the great
family of Composite, or so-called compound
flowers, to which belong the daisies, asters.
golden-rods and sun-howers. The name is
derived from two Greek words meaning
golden and .fo,rer, in allusion to the color of
some species. There are over hundred and
twenty distinct species of chrysanthemum
known to botanists, of which about half
dozen are wild in North America. OF these
only five are in general cultivation in this
country. The most important species of the
genus is that which has given rise. to the
great autumn-f -fiowerlng varieties with which
we are now coming familiar. Until recent
years it was supposed that our autumn vari-
cites had been produced from two distinct
species, Chry santhemum Indicum, from In
dia, and c. Sinese, from China. 1t is now
agreed, however, that these two species are
only forms of one which we continue to call
G. Sinese. 1t is not known when the chrys-
anthemum first appeared in Europe. The
earliest authentic record says that, IN l1yO a
merchant named Blanchard brought them
from the East into France. In 1885. specl-
men tlowered near London, England, In the
gardens of Mr.. Colvill. In 1919, twelve var
ieties were known in England. OF late years,
some very peculiar varieties, the so-called
fluffy chrysanthemums, have been introduced
from Japan, where they have long been cul-
tivated. Of the Chinese chrysanthemums
there are four well-marked races or sets Of
| varieties: the large show varieties, the POM
-AA4sTi RE bompones or Cfusan Daisies. are
small and compact growing plants, bearing a
| profusion of small, button-shaped flowers
These We're introduced into England, in
1S45. from China or Japan, by Robert For
| tune, a botanical explorer The anemone-
| h0wered sorts are peculiar in having tuft
OF erect petals in the center of the flower,
while the side petals are spreading as in the
| ordinary sorts, giving the flower the appear
ance of great japanese anemone. In the
| quilted varieties the petals are rolled up like
| aquill, presenting very striking appearance.
Aside from these sorts the single varieties
are somewhat grown.
The second chrysanthemum in Importance
is the Marguerite, G. frutescens, ssshrubby
chrysanthemum," which is very much like
the Ox-eye Daisy of our fields. The Margue-
rite has comely single flowers, either white
or yellow, They are borne on long, slender
oeoiho NhiSt iVhuSt llicil ucSlfdDlt lOT DOu-
Quets.
The Ox-eye Daisy, which is such pest to
farmers, but such delight to all lovers of
| flowers, is also chrysanthemum. lit was
introduced into this country from Europe,
| where it is a native, probably sometime
| last century. 1t has now overrun pastures
and meadows from New England to Miehi-
| gan.
The third chrysanthemum in Importance is
| c. roseum, species not very unlike our Ok
| eye Daisy, only that it has bright red or pink
| flowers and linely-cut leaves. This plant is
native of .Caucasia and adjacent regions,
where 1t is largely grown for the manufact-
ure OF the famons Pyrethrum or Persian
insect powder. The flower heads are dried
and ground into powder. The plant is often
grown for ornament, and double varieties are
| frequent
| The common summer chrysanthemum of
| gardens, G c0ronarium, is the fourth species
in Importance. This commonly bears bright
| yellow flowers, either single or double. 1t is
| native of the south of Europe
| The small-flowered pyrethrum or feyer-few
| Is also chrysanthemum, G. Parthenium.
This was once cultivated as medical herb,
being supposed to allay fevers, whence the
common name. Single-fowered varieties
| OF this are often seen growing wild about
| gardens and cultivated fields. A peculiar
| variety, sometimes known as "Golden
Feather is cultivated on account of its gol-
| den foliage